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Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to
abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to
fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not
the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from
the law, until all things have taken place.” Matthew 5:17–18
For many, the Old Testament can be confusing, filled with laws,
rituals, and prophecies that seem difficult to connect with the New
Testament. Yet, Jesus’ words remind us that the Old Testament is
not merely a relic of the past but an essential part of God’s
divine plan. Furthermore, every law, prophecy, and detail, down to
“the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter,” finds its
deepest meaning and completion in Christ.
In a simplified way, the “Law and the Prophets” in the Old
Testament can be summarized as moral laws, ceremonial laws, and
prophetic teaching. The moral laws reflect God’s eternal truths of
right and wrong, the ceremonial laws govern Israel’s worship and
rituals, and the prophetic teaching calls the people to repentance,
pointing to the coming Messiah. Together, these form the foundation
of the Old Covenant, which is fulfilled in Christ, Who established
the New and Eternal Covenant. Additionally, the Psalms and Wisdom
literature enrich the Law and the Prophets, offering inspired
prayers, meditations on God’s faithfulness, and practical guidance
for virtuous living.
Though it might be an arduous task to read through the entire Old
Testament, those who do so with understanding discover the truth
that everything finds its fulfillment in Christ. “Fulfillment” does
not mean that Jesus altered or discarded the Old Testament; rather,
He revealed its true and hidden meaning, bringing it to perfection.
What the Old Testament could only foreshadow, Jesus accomplished,
achieving the fullness of God’s plan.
By analogy, consider an artist’s sketch that depicts a beautiful
mountain range and sunset. The Old Testament is like that sketch—it
provides the framework, details, and foreshadowing of something
greater. In Christ, the sketch is brought to life, becoming reality
through God’s creative act. While the sketch and the actual
mountain range are the same scene, the reality is the perfect and
complete expression of what the sketch anticipated. God, as the
Divine Artist, first “sketched” what would come to be through the
Law, Prophets, and Wisdom literature, and then brought it to
fulfillment through Jesus’ Incarnation, Life, Death, and
Resurrection.
In today’s Gospel, after declaring that He came to fulfill the Law
and the Prophets, Jesus provided three examples of how He brings
the Old Testament moral law to its fulfillment. The commandment
“You shall not kill” is deepened to include the interior sin of
anger; “You shall not commit adultery” is expanded to include lust
in the heart; and “Do not take a false oath” is elevated to a call
for sincerity, honesty, and integrity in all one says and does. The
Messiah then pours forth His grace, enabling the faithful to live
in accord with this high calling.
Though not included in today’s Gospel, Jesus also brings the
ceremonial laws to fulfillment by becoming the Lamb of God,
offering Himself as the definitive High Priest on the new altar of
the Cross. Furthermore, our Lord fulfills the prophets by
establishing the New Covenant in His blood, as seen in Isaiah’s
vision of the Suffering Servant Who bears the sins of many (Isaiah
53), Jeremiah’s promise of the new covenant written on hearts
(Jeremiah 31:31–34), and Micah’s prophecy of a ruler born in
Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
Reflect today on God’s Eternal Law, established before the
foundation of the world and brought to fulfillment in Christ. The
human life of the Son of God is the center of time and eternity.
Everything converges on Him, and new life flows from Him. Just as
our Lord fulfills the Old Testament, He also is the only source of
true fulfillment in our lives. Ponder His mission and renew your
choice to accept His New Covenant, written on your heart by grace.
Doing so is an exercise in Divine Wisdom, giving you a share in the
new life of grace, made possible by His blood.
Glorious Lawgiver and Messiah, Your Wisdom is perfect, eternal,
and transforming. All things came to be through You and find their
fulfillment in You. I thank You for the gift of Your Eternal Law
and pray for the grace to live it to perfection, with the aid of
Your saving grace. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT, via Wikimedia
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